Head-to-head reliability
Subaru Legacy vs Toyota Camry
How the Subaru Legacy and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Subaru Legacy vs Toyota Camry: The Legacy averages 72 complaints per year with 24 recalls, while the Camry averages 206 complaints and 31 recalls. The Legacy's top issues are visibility and electrical, while the Camry's are power train and brakes. Both have safety-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru Legacy or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru Legacy
The Subaru Legacy is a midsize sedan that averages about 72 complaints per year over the past decade, with 24 recalls. The most common owner-reported issues involve visibility (especially sun visors and windshields), electrical glitches (infotainment and warning lights), and occasional engine problems like unintended acceleration. While it has fewer complaints than the Camry, the Legacy still has notable safety-related complaints, including 36 crash-related reports and 14 injuries.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 206 per year—and 31 recalls. Owners frequently report power train issues (hesitation, shuddering, key stuck), engine problems (delayed throttle), and brake concerns (EPB failure, ABS noise). Despite the higher numbers, the Camry has only 1 death reported, but 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries suggest a range of safety-related problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru Legacy | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 724 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 36 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 72.4 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 14 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Subaru Legacy
- 01VISIBILITY/WIPER207
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM185
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER161
- 04ENGINE39
- 05STEERING35
Owners complain that the sun visor is too short and narrow, making it hard to block glare even with the seat raised. Windshields also appear prone to cracking from small road debris, which could lead to costly replacements and reduced visibility.
Infotainment system issues are common, such as muting phone calls and displaying false warning lights for EyeSight and transmission oil. These glitches can distract the driver and may require dealer visits to resolve.
Some owners report unintended acceleration, where the car suddenly speeds up without pressing the gas, and others had to replace the engine in a new vehicle. These are serious safety and reliability concerns that could lead to crashes or expensive repairs.
Complaints include windows rolling down on their own and unexplained noises or events. These unpredictable issues can be frustrating and may indicate underlying electrical or mechanical faults.
“Safety Hazard: Subaru Sun Visor I own a 2022 Subaru Legacy, the first new car I've ever owned. The visor (to protect eyes from the sun) is too short and not wide enough. The seat is raised as high as it will go. I CAN'T position myself to protect my eyes from…”
“In 2022, a piece of small gravel fell off the back of a dump truck, bounced off the road, and struck the windshield of my 2022 Subaru Legacy. Based on past experience with other vehicles, this should have resulted in a round or star-shaped crack to the glass…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck even when the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove. Others experience hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with the check engine light on, pointing to transmission or engine management problems.
A delayed throttle response is a recurring complaint—pressing the gas pedal results in a several-second lag before the car moves. This can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic and may indicate electronic throttle or sensor issues.
The electronic parking brake (EPB) may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Owners also hear clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, which dealers attribute to the ABS system but many find abnormal.
Multiple systems—stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously. Such widespread electronic failures could compromise safety and are hard to diagnose.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Subaru Legacy — 24 recalls
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
The risk: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Suba…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
The risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
The risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may crack and short circuit, which can prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying in a crash.
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the ODS sensors on the front passenger seat, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-24.
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Subaru Legacy or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Subaru Legacy has far fewer complaints per year (72 vs. 206) and fewer recalls (24 vs. 31), suggesting it may be less troublesome overall. However, the Camry's higher volume includes many power train and brake issues, while the Legacy's top problems are visibility and electrical glitches. In practice, the Legacy might mean fewer trips to the shop, but both have safety-related complaints that buyers should weigh.
Key differences
- The Legacy averages 72 complaints per year vs. the Camry's 206, indicating fewer owner-reported problems overall.
- Legacy's top issue is visibility (sun visor, windshield), while Camry's top issue is power train (key stuck, hesitation).
- Camry has more crash-related complaints (171 vs. 36) and injuries (158 vs. 14), though it also has more vehicles on the road.
- Both have electrical complaints, but Legacy's are infotainment-focused, while Camry's involve multiple safety systems failing at once.
- Check the sun visor for adequate coverage and test the windshield for any cracks or chips, as these are common complaints.
- Test the infotainment system thoroughly—make calls, use CarPlay, and watch for warning lights—to ensure no electrical glitches.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and look for any hesitation or shuddering during a test drive, which could indicate power train issues.
- Check the electronic parking brake operation and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine and transmission for the specific issues reported (unintended acceleration for Legacy, hesitation for Camry).
- Test all electronic features, including infotainment, warning lights, and driver-assist systems.
- For the Legacy, verify the sun visor and windshield condition; for the Camry, test the EPB and listen for brake noises.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and whether any of the common complaints have been addressed.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Subaru Legacy | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 163 |
| 2024 | 17 | 50 |
| 2023 | 10 | 64 |
| 2022 | 33 | 61 |
| 2021 | 31 | 157 |
| 2020 | 121 | 274 |
| 2019 | 123 | 395 |
| 2018 | 117 | 744 |
| 2017 | 119 | 148 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Subaru Legacy or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru Legacy vs Toyota Camry
- Subaru Legacy total complaints
- 724
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Subaru Legacy total recalls
- 24
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Subaru Legacy avg complaints/year
- 72.4
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Subaru Legacy
- Subaru Legacy top complaint area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN